It Must Have Been the Mistletoe

Short Story in Mistletoe Magic Anthology

By Phyllis Campbell

Champagne Books - December 2005

Contemporary Romance

Having just escaped a wedding and a possible hit on his life, Justin Monroe left his wedding rehearsal to hide out in his best friend's cabin. The plan was to stay away from others until the threat was over. He hadn't counted on a female stowaway.

Brooke Cavanaugh had thought she was crawling in the back seat of her sister's car when she took her medicine to sleep off a migraine. Instead, she had gotten into a stranger's Jeep and slept through nearly six hours of driving. Now, she was alone with a stranger, and they were both stranded at a cabin due to the snowstorm.

Justin couldn't believe the irony of his situation. Now he had the cousin of Robin, his ex-fiancee, with him. But Brooke was as different from Robin as anyone could be. As Justin learned the truth of how Robin and the rest of the family treated Brooke, Justin knew that he needed to control his baser instincts and respect Brooke. That was something that hadn't been given to her. He also knew that his slight deception of not telling Brooke that he was her cousin's now ex-fiancee could jeopardize the progress he made with her.

It Must Have Been the Mistletoe was a moving short story about a woman whose self-confidence had been trampled upon by nearly everyone. When Brooke had needed her family the most, they had turned their backs on her. Justin, having just realized the extent of Robin's manipulations, could easily empathize with Brooke. Typically, I don't enjoy romances between two strangers that take place in such a short time period. However, this one is an exception. It was part of the healing process for Brooke to make such a leap-of-faith with Justin.

It Must Have Been the Mistletoe is a short story in the Mistletoe Magic Anthology which includes 3 stories. The other stories are Underneath the Mistletoe by Rebecca Goings, and Blame it on the Mistletoe by Liz Hunter.